2014 Vuelta al País Vasco, stage 5: Eibar > Markina-Xemein 160km

[BigMac]

Breakaway stage?

Wouldn't be surprised if there isn't any GC action here, considering tomorrow's TT.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

No GC action with 4 solid climbs over 60km? It would be a pity, but this is the modern peloton. Very strong teams, difficult to get away probably.

Hopefully Movistar will try and setup an attack again.

 

[VeloHuman]

Breakaway stage?

Wouldn't be surprised if there isn't any GC action here, considering tomorrow's TT.

I hope it isn't. Would be a great stage for a post-climb sprint showdown between Valverde, Kwiatkowski, and Cunego.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

The details:

 

[Libertine Seguros]

They need to do the Ixua-Aiastia loop in the opposite direction (same as they did today), and do it before the other loop.

Also, on the loop with the two cat.3 climbs, there is a road that climbs above Gontzegaraigana between Bolibar and Munitibar. If they do the loop the same way as they are doing on tomorrow's stage, then you place this 20km from home and with another climb after:

If they do the loop in the opposite direction (i.e. they do the Ixua-Aiastia loop in whatever direction they please, then go over Goierri/Santa Eufemia from Markina and do the section from 125km to 98km on the profile backwards), then you place the shorter Munitibar side of the climb about 10km from the finish:

You would have to descend as shown on that profile as well, so not doing the whole of the first side of Parriolaburu I showed you in reverse as the road would be tricky for that.

 

[manafana]

can always say do a different route but so many reasons go behind why they do things a certain way. Final climb does have a ramp but the downhill finish makes it hard to stay away whats the road like?

 

[TourOfTexas]

Whatever. None of these climbs are over Cat 3.

 

[BigMac]

can always say do a different route but so many reasons go behind why they do things a certain way. Final climb does have a ramp but the downhill finish makes it hard to stay away whats the road like?

Completely agree with you.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

can always say do a different route but so many reasons go behind why they do things a certain way. Final climb does have a ramp but the downhill finish makes it hard to stay away whats the road like?

It is the penultimate climb from today, but climbed in the opposite direction.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Whatever. None of these climbs are over Cat 3.

Categorisations are relative to race. Of course Arrate isn't a cat.1 in the Tour de France, but in the Vuelta al País Vasco it's a cat.1, because there aren't that many climbs of 15k+, if any, to race in Euskadi, at least not within the confines of the present day País Vasco (there are some that would be cat.1 or HC in the Tour in Iparralde of course). Same as how Montée Laurent Jalabert was cat.1 in Paris-Nice 2010, but when the very same climb appeared in the Tour de France that year, it was cat.2.

I am very disappointed in this stage's design, no doubt about it, but Ixua's more than a cat.3 in the Itzulia, from either side.

 

[TourOfTexas]

Categorisations are relative to race. Of course Arrate isn't a cat.1 in the Tour de France, but in the Vuelta al País Vasco it's a cat.1, because there aren't that many climbs of 15k+, if any, to race in Euskadi, at least not within the confines of the present day País Vasco (there are some that would be cat.1 or HC in the Tour in Iparralde of course). Same as how Montée Laurent Jalabert was cat.1 in Paris-Nice 2010, but when the very same climb appeared in the Tour de France that year, it was cat.2.

I am very disappointed in this stage's design, no doubt about it, but Ixua's more than a cat.3 in the Itzulia, from either side.

These categories should at least be close to one another.

 

[iodine2]

Kiriyienka should have a good shot for this

 

[TommyPlus]

Break break and break some more.
Iglinsky
Mollema
Vermote
Against the field

 

[SafeBet]

These categories should at least be close to one another.

Why?

10char

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Kiriyienka should have a good shot for this

Vasil DNF yesterday.

 

[Shardi]

Wouldnt be surprised to se Gilbert go for the break. He seems very active and motivated to test himself ahead of the hilly classics.

 

[naffets]

What's happened to Arroyo? Looked like he had good form coming into this tour. Saving it to get in the breakaway today?

 

[movingtarget]

Wouldnt be surprised to se Gilbert go for the break. He seems very active and motivated to test himself ahead of the hilly classics.

BMC have three riders in the top 10 all within a minute. Surely they will try something as will Movistar.

 

[veji11]

This race is another example of how awesome cycling could be with teams of 6. On such a route with narrow roads, it would be utterly uncontrolable. With teams of 8, Tinkoff should be able to control it until the last climb when Contador/Valverde will either blow it open again or make sure they are in the group of 5/10 strong men that crowns the summit. then regrouping might be possible if cooperation in the group is bad.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

BMC have three riders in the top 10 all within a minute. Surely they will try something as will Movistar.

Same with Katusha. They have three riders within 1 minute. Plenty of terrain for longer distance attacks, but Rogers Sutherland appears to be very strong for Tinkoff.

 

[Better Call Saul]

BMC have three riders in the top 10 all within a minute. Surely they will try something as will Movistar.

Yeah but can't see why they would have been so passive yesterday if they're interested in anything but keeping their spots.
Outrageous reading the cn article today, what are 3 premium cyclists like samu, tj & evans doing aiming for top 10?

 

[TommyPlus]

Yeah but can't see why they would have been so passive yesterday if they're interested in anything but keeping their spots.
Outrageous reading the cn article today, what are 3 premium cyclists like samu, tj & evans doing aiming for top 10?

Sammy gave it a whirl yesterday just didn't have the legs.
Cadel is too old and TJ just isn't explosive enough.

 

[manafana]

Does anyone have an idea what final downhill is like narrow enough to give an attack a chance or suited to a pack?

 

[Parrulo]

Zona Matxin
‏@ZONAMATXIN
#Itzulia hay fuga: Intxausti, I. Izagirre, Rui, Albasini, Moinard, Edmondson, K Fernández, Brutt, Gautier, Wellens, Serry, Txurruka, Piedra

But TS brought that breakaway back is now only jungels at the front.

 

[Better Call Saul]

Sammy gave it a whirl yesterday just didn't have the legs.
Cadel is too old and TJ just isn't explosive enough.

He tried for a late stage win, yeah.
I agree that they don't have it. But to my way of thinking, that's all the more reason to use tactics over stength. All will be marked - perfect!